Chief Minister Jeetan Ram Manjhi on Wednesday inaugurated the state’s biggest irrigation project, Durgawati Jalashay Yojana, which was launched in 1975 with an estimated cost of Rs 25 crore. The project, which has been biggest political plank of Rohtas and Kaimur, eventually cost Rs 1,066 crore and would benefit 12 blocks of the two districts.

Manjhi, who has been of late facing criticism for non-performance, credited former chief minister Nitish Kumar for making Durgawati project, which faced several legal wrangles and bureaucratic delays, a reality. “It is because of the vision of then CM Nitish Kumar that the project could see the light of day. Nitishji ensured that all hurdles were crossed,” said Manjhi, also crediting Opposition parties and alliance partners for the success.

“The project that envisaged to irrigate over 33,000 hectare land would be fully operational within a year. We still have to desilt several canals and make some irrigation channels to take the reservoir water to field”, said Manjhi.